If referring to the cracking and groaning of the bars, you can fit rollers onto the bars instead of chains connecting fixed to a point, usually by a u bolt.
McHitch sold these after market roller kits but they have recently closed down. I have the roller kits on my WDH, it is a McHitch WDH which comes with them, and its great. Hardly any noise at all, in fact, never really heard anything.
Steel Dog said
07:28 PM Feb 25, 2023
I had noises when turning corners, so I just just put a light smear of Vaseline in the holes in the hitch before installing the bars.
Cheers
-- Edited by Steel Dog on Saturday 25th of February 2023 07:29:47 PM
Meznwaz said
01:52 PM Feb 26, 2023
Yes mine are probably the older style ones.
Meznwaz said
01:53 PM Feb 26, 2023
Thanks I'll check that out.
Meznwaz said
01:55 PM Feb 26, 2023
Already using Lanox Spray for that purpose but thanks for the hint with Vasoline.
KJB said
02:01 PM Feb 26, 2023
Meznwaz wrote:
Already using Lanox Spray for that purpose but thanks for the hint with Vasoline.
Apply a smear of Grease (same as Wheel Bearing Grease..) sprays are generally too thin and do not last.....
patrol03 said
07:25 PM Mar 3, 2023
Agreed. A good smear of WB grease on the ball and in the bar cradle area does wonders.
The Belmont Bear said
10:18 AM Mar 4, 2023
When I was using te HR type WDH I did the same as what the other guys have posted. I was using grease but I was told to be careful as it can pick up grit and work like grinding paste (thats why wheel bearings are sealed) so I started using a graphite type spray. Problem with the spray its probably only good in the short term so you basically need to do it every couple of days. I replaced our HR hitch with an Andersen Hitch when we got our new van, one of their supposed benefits was that they were quieter. After 10,000kms using it I cant say that I find it much different it still groans (maybe a little less) and the same lubrication is still required..
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Saturday 4th of March 2023 10:19:49 AM
mike g g said
03:59 PM Mar 9, 2023
Yes before I fitted the mchitch with the rollers mine was noisy mchitch with rollers no noise .
bruceg said
11:23 AM Mar 18, 2023
At the tow tug end a non sticky grease is best, or use polyproylene (Gladwrap) as a lubricant. At the bar tip end rather than grease I changed the metal-to-metal contact type.
The hardened steel bar end rubbing on the softer galvanised (zinc coated) steel A-frame digs in and soon starts groaning at the slightest turn. Not good.
A thin piece of stainless steel sheet bent into an 'L' shape can be clamped under the chain lever plates and most of the noise goes away (and changes to a nicer 'tone'). Why does this work? It has to do with a charactoristic of the stainless steel; its 'R' value (work hardening rate). As the hardened end of the distribution bar rubs against the stainless steel the stainless gets harder and harder to scratch and then it begins to be polished. This is totally different to the bar gouging into soft zinc and soft steel and continually cutting into fresh metal.
You can see the polished arc at the bottom of the picture. This is after 3,000km.
bye.
-- Edited by bruceg on Saturday 18th of March 2023 04:02:54 PM
Just enquiring as to what people do to combat noisy WDBs
What noise? Or do you have some older style.
I have these https://www.haymanreese.com.au/products/weight-distribution-systems
Tim
McHitch sold these after market roller kits but they have recently closed down. I have the roller kits on my WDH, it is a McHitch WDH which comes with them, and its great. Hardly any noise at all, in fact, never really heard anything.
I had noises when turning corners, so I just just put a light smear of Vaseline in the holes in the hitch before installing the bars.
Cheers
-- Edited by Steel Dog on Saturday 25th of February 2023 07:29:47 PM
Yes mine are probably the older style ones.
Thanks I'll check that out.
Apply a smear of Grease (same as Wheel Bearing Grease..) sprays are generally too thin and do not last.....
When I was using te HR type WDH I did the same as what the other guys have posted. I was using grease but I was told to be careful as it can pick up grit and work like grinding paste (thats why wheel bearings are sealed) so I started using a graphite type spray. Problem with the spray its probably only good in the short term so you basically need to do it every couple of days. I replaced our HR hitch with an Andersen Hitch when we got our new van, one of their supposed benefits was that they were quieter. After 10,000kms using it I cant say that I find it much different it still groans (maybe a little less) and the same lubrication is still required..
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Saturday 4th of March 2023 10:19:49 AM
At the tow tug end a non sticky grease is best, or use polyproylene (Gladwrap) as a lubricant. At the bar tip end rather than grease I changed the metal-to-metal contact type.
The hardened steel bar end rubbing on the softer galvanised (zinc coated) steel A-frame digs in and soon starts groaning at the slightest turn. Not good.
A thin piece of stainless steel sheet bent into an 'L' shape can be clamped under the chain lever plates and most of the noise goes away (and changes to a nicer 'tone'). Why does this work? It has to do with a charactoristic of the stainless steel; its 'R' value (work hardening rate). As the hardened end of the distribution bar rubs against the stainless steel the stainless gets harder and harder to scratch and then it begins to be polished. This is totally different to the bar gouging into soft zinc and soft steel and continually cutting into fresh metal.
You can see the polished arc at the bottom of the picture. This is after 3,000km.
bye.
-- Edited by bruceg on Saturday 18th of March 2023 04:02:54 PM